Mezcal brand The Lost Explorer enters tequila

Having worked for three decades as head distiller of Diageo’s Don Julio, maestro tequilero Enrique de Colsa has partnered with The Lost Explorer to create its first tequila line.

Pernod Ricard sees sales drop -3% in H1 FY24

Pernod Ricard reported a -3% decline of both organic sales and organic profit from recurring operations for the first half of the financial year 2024.

Spirit of Craft Awards launch in Asia

FoodNews Creative Marketing Agency is launching the first edition of the Spirit of Craft Awards (SOCraft Awards).

Asahi acquires Octopi Brewing to produce Super Dry in the US

Asahi Europe and International (AEI) has announced the acquisition of Octopi Brewing, with plans to brew Asahi Super Dry in the US for the first time.

Latin America and Caribbean see Diageo profit decrease

Johnnie Walker owner Diageo is expecting to see a decline in profit in the first half of fiscal 2024, due to a “weaker performance” in Latin America and Caribbean (LAC). 

Havana Club launches Cocktail Maestros competition

Leading Cuban rum brand, Havana Club is proud to unveil its groundbreaking global bartending competition: Havana Club Cocktail Maestros, which sets the stage for a new era in the cocktail world.

BrewDog launches first rum cask sale with Whisky Hammer

BrewDog Distilling Co has released its first ever rum casks for sale as part of an annual online auction with specialist spirits auctioneer, Whisky Hammer. 

Mr Lyan partners with Whitebox Cocktails

Bartender Ryan ‘Mr Lyan’ Chetiyawardana is joining forces with Whitebox Cocktails, the ready-to-pour cocktail brand founded by bartenders, to release three of his most known serves in a canned format.

Silverleaf launches new menu

Silverleaf bar at Pan Pacific London has launched its new menu, Building Blocks, the first new menu launch for the bar since opening in February 2022. 

Plantation Rum launches Sealander expression

Plantation Rum has launched ‘Sealander’, consisting of a blend of rums from Barbados, Mauritius and the Fiji Islands.

Puerto de Indias announces UK distribution partner

Spanish gin brand Puerto de Indias has announced its partnership for distribution in the UK with Love Drinks.

Bar Daskal introduces Spanish masterclass series

Bar Daskal, the London-based Spanish wine and cocktail bar from the team behind Barrafina, and restaurant booking platform Resy have announced the first Bar Daskal Maestros, a new series bringing guests masterclasses from maestros in the industry.

Scarfes Bar hosts Oslo’s Himkok

Scarfes Bar at Rosewood London will partner with cocktail bar Himkok for a takeover experience on Wednesday 6 September from 7-10pm.

Desolas Mezcal expands into Canada

Desolas Mezcal has announced a new distribution partnership with Renaissance Wine Merchants to expand its footprint into Canada.

Molson Coors acquires Blue Run Spirits

Molson Coors Beverage Company has reached an agreement to acquire Blue Run Spirits, producer of bourbon and rye whiskies.

Joseph Cartron announces global winner of Unexpected Cartron Tour

Spiribam-UK and its fruit liqueur, eaux-de-vie and vermouth company, Joseph Cartron, have announced Daniel Seehuusen of Hotel Skansen, in Sweden as the global winner of its Unexpected Cartron Tour.

Jinro launches series of UK activations

Korean soju brand Jinro has launched the first of three activations in Europe planned for 2023 after breaking 100m 9-litre cases.

Champagne veteran joins Ferrari Trento

Ferrari Trento has announced that Cyril Brun has joined the Italian sparkling wine brand located in Trentino, Italy, as cellar master.

Hambledon vineyard releases Première Cuvée Rosé

This year, eight years after launching its Première Cuvée, Hambledon are releasing the first ever rosé version of this wine, its Première Cuvée Rosé. 

Baccarat Bar launches first new menu since opening

Drinks International can exclusively reveal that Baccarat Bar, located on the lower ground floor of Harrods, is launching its first new menu since opening its doors in July 2020. 

Elements of Islay releases Beach Bonfire limited edition

Elements of Islay is releasing its Beach Bonfire, a limited edition of 288 bottles which will be exclusively available at Islay’s festival Fèis Ìle on 26 May to 3 June 2023.

Italy’s first Lecce Cocktail Week to arrive this May

The South of Italy’s first-ever cocktail week is set to launch in Lecce from 15-21 May, where the city's best bars will team up with drinks brands to showcase the Leccese cocktail scene.

Mor Koral wins Patrón Perfectionists 2023

Mor Koral, founder of Cocktail Kitchen company in Tel Aviv, has been crowned global winner of the 2023 Patrón Perfectionists.

50 Best Bars 2023 heads to Singapore

The annual list of The World’s 50 Best Bars, sponsored by Perrier, will be unveiled as part of a live awards ceremony in Singapore at the Pasir Panjang power station on Tuesday, 17 October 2023.

Absolut expands its drinks range

Absolut expands its product portfolio as the company’s global NPD plans this year include two new product ranges and a new addition to its current flavour vodka range.

Black Chalk secures US distribution for the first time

Five years on from its launch, Hampshire-based wine estate Black Chalk, has announced that from April it will be distributed in the US market for the first time, via Sera Wine Imports.

The Boatyard Distillery gains B-Corp certification

Irish spirits maker, The Boatyard Distillery, has announced it has earned B-Corporation certification.

Matugga ​​launches private cask ownership

Matugga Distillery has launched its private cask ownership programme, Pamoja, to the public, offering people the chance to tap into the emerging market of rum cask ownership.

Joseph Cartron launches first international cocktail competition

Joseph Cartron is launching its first edition of the "Unexpected Cartron Tour", a cocktail competition for professional bartenders.

Premiumisation shows first signs of slowing down

According to IWSR Drinks Market Analysis, the first half of 2022 (H1) saw value growth of beverage alcohol reaching historic highs, driven by a combination of post-pandemic demand and price increases.

BrewDog launches its first ever whisky cask sale

BrewDog Distilling Co, Scotland’s only carbon negative distillery, has announced its first ever whisky cask sale.

Lixir becomes UK's first B Corp Tonic Water & Mixer

Tonic and mixer brand, Lixir, has announced its certification as a B Corporation, the first of its category in the UK to reach this status. 

How one gin brand, packed with Spanish spirit and real strawberries, is taking the UK by storm

Puerto de Indias is the market leader in Spain’s strawberry gin segment, and a pioneer in creating the first gin from natural strawberries.

Torres Brandy presents first smoked brandy: Torres 10 Smoked Barrel

Torres Brandy has revealed its first smoked brandy, the Torres 10 Smoked Barrel, a limited edition that will only be available for a short time. 

Scapegrace Distillery releases first single malt

New Zealand spirits brand Scapegrace has announced the launch of a limited-edition range of single malts, the first whisky released by the brand.

The Spirit of Manchester Distillery introduces Founder's Club

The Spirit of Manchester Distillery has launched its first ever members’ club to give experimental drinkers and whisky enthusiasts the chance to follow the journey of the City’s first single malt English whisky, One Point Six, from cask to glass.

Bladnoch Distillery expands it's 'Classic Collection'

Bladnoch Distillery has announced the newest addition to its ‘Classic Collection’ of Lowland single malt scotch whiskies, Liora.

Jäegermeister and Jura shine in Travel Retail Awards 2022

Both Jura and Jäegermeister have been crowned Supreme Champions at Drinks International’s Travel Retail Awards 2022.

World’s 50 Best Bars unveils 51-100 list for 2022

The World’s 50 Best Bars has announced the 51-100 list ahead of next week’s ceremony in Barcelona.

JungleBird’s Divyesh Chauhan talks cocktail culture in Kuala Lumpur

Over the last few years, Kuala Lumpur has emerged as a cocktail city to watch. Drinks International caught up with Divyesh Chauhan, co-founder and director of JungleBird, one of the bars putting Malaysia’s capital on the bartending map.

WSET to hold first virtual Open House

WSET (the Wine & Spirit Education Trust) is to hold its first ‘virtual open house’ event on October 19 - 20 2022 as part of an ongoing drive to raise awareness of its qualifications within the global drinks trade. 

White Peak auctions inaugural whisky for local charities

White Peak Distillery from Derbyshire, UK, is offering the last opportunity to own a bottle of its sell-out inaugural release of Wire Works Whisky via auction site Whisky Auctioneer.

Diablo announces the UK arrival of two new wines

Diablo, created by South American wine company Concha y Toro, has announced the arrival of two new wines to its portfolio.

Jinro announces first Korean spirit sponsorship of major UK festival

The world’s number one selling spirit brand Jinro soju has announced it will be sponsoring Luno presents All Points East festival this month, the first time a Korean spirit brand has supported a major UK festival, making history for the global drinks market.

Beam Suntory reports strong first-half performance driven by premium brands

A strong performance in key markets saw Beam Suntory’s net sales increase by 13% year-on-year in the first half of 2022, a 25% increase on the pre-pandemic period in 2019.

Domaine Tariquet Pure Folle Blanche 15 wins Supreme Champion at the International Spirits Challenge 2022

Domaine Tariquet Pure Folle Blanche 15 ans has been named the Supreme Champion at the International Spirits Challenge 2022, becoming the first armagnac in ISC history to do so.

Mount Gay Silver is first Barbadian rum to be Bonsucro certified

Mount Gay has announced its Mount Gay Silver blend is the first rum to be Bonsucro certified in Barbados.

Le Syndicat to play host to international takeover series

Award-winning Parisian cocktail bar Le Syndicat has announced a series of takeovers by London’s Silverleaf and Mexico City’s Hanky Panky to coincide with the Cocktail Spirits show.

Diageo announces partnership with the UK’s first LGBTQ+ museum

Diageo has announced a two-year partnership with Queer Britain in London, the UK’s first national LGBTQ+ museum.

Mark Livings: How Lyre's plans global expansion

Few drinks categories have seen as much start-up activity as alcohol-free spirits in recent times. Lyre’s chief executive Mark Livings concedes his brand was beaten to the market by the likes of Seedlip and others, but he’s convinced that rapid scaling, rather than being early to the game, holds the key to success.